Major power outage in Simi Valley, wind could be to blame

Ari BloomekatzThis post has been updated, as indicated below.

[Updated 12:18 p.m.:Southern California Edison spokesman Robert Villegas says that 362 customers remain without power and the expected restoration time is around 11 p.m. Villegas said there was a wire down and that “we’re still suspecting that it was wind.”]

A major power outage in Simi Valley Wednesday morning has left thousands of residents without electricity and affected traffic signals at intersections in the area.

"We had an issue with our circuits and we have an outage going on right now. Total number of customers impacted is 5,223," he said. "We think that it might be wind related, but we're not sure."

Villegas said crews were on the ground "looking through our circuits" and trying to figure out what the problem is.

"We also do not [currently] have an estimated restoration time," Villegas said.

The Simi Valley Police Department issued a statement saying the outage has affected "several areas of the City, primarily from the south central area to the west."

"There are a large number of intersections where the traffic signals are not working as a result of the power outage," according to the statement. "Drivers are reminded that they must treat all intersections where signals are not working as four-way stops."